Parachute



April 7, 1970 P. M. LEMOIGNE 3,504,874

ATTORN EY S April 7, 1970 P. M. LEMolGNE 3,504,874

4 PARACHUTE Filed Feb. 26, 196e 2 sheets-sheet 2 s 48 W3. wf

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,504,874 PARACHUTE Pierre Marcel Lemoigne, 103 Ave. Derdier 92, Montrouge, France Filed Feb. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 708,228 Claims priority, application France, Mar. 3, 1967 Int. ci. 64d 17/18 U.S. Cl. 244--142 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A parachute having a canopy comprised of a circumferential strip which defines the outer periphery of the canopy. The periphery of the canopy being divided into a front and rear portion, and a plurality of first ribbons parallel to one another attached between the front and rear portions of the canopy periphery. A plurality of second ribbons substantially parallel one to the other attached to the canopy periphery, the second ribbons being perpendicular to the first ribbons. The two groups of rib- =bons forming substantially square shaped frames in the center portion of the canopy, and forming with the periphery of the canopy some triangular shaped frames adjacent the periphery. Tissue panels disposed within each square and triangular frame so as to close the opening defined thereby, some of the panels having slot openings providing air flow from the lower to the upper canopy surface in -a rearward direction. The canopy also has a truncated pyramid at its center portion, means for regulating the slot, stabilizer panels, and varying porosity panel material.

The present invention relates` to a new parachute, notably for use by paratroops, and also as a sport parachute.

Until now, almost the whole canopy of parachutes was made up of radiating tissue gores, appreciably triangular in shape, which necessitated fairly delicate assembly, giving the deployed canopy a cupola shape with a relatively large hollow (which is defined in this application as the ratio of height to diameter), so that the surface of the tissue used was much greater (eg. of the order of twice greater) than the projected useful surface of the canopy.

In recent years it has been possible to give these parachutes new directional or steering qualities, and even to a certain extent to make them glide, as a result of devices allowing the air to escape from the interior to the exterior, and which channel this air in a given direction. These devices, which often have the effect of air-accelerators, comprise for example orifices, slots or nozzles. Because of the radiating arrangement of the gores, it was often very inconvenient to mount such accelerating or lifting devices in the most effective positions on the canopy, and to give them the best orientation.

It has also been possible in recent years to increase the ratio between the projected and real surfaces of the canopy, i.e. to increase the spreading of the canopy, because of .the adoption of central rigging-lines, but in general in parachutes with central rigging-lines, special arrangements have to be made to avoid excessive canopy opening shocks.

The present invention aims at a new parachute obviating or mitigating these various drawbacks, permitting the manufacture of a parachute whose projected tissue area is greater, for the same tissue surface, than in parachutes known until now, which achieves a considerable saving in raw materials; whose manufacture is easier than the known 'one which starts from gores, and whose gliding and steering capacities are superior to those of parachutes known up to the present.

3,504,874 Patented Apr. 7, 1970 iCe The present invention is a parachute having a canopy which is subdivided into elementary tissue panels, square in shape, each of said elementary panels being edged by a reinforcing ribbon sewn to the said panel and to the adjacent panel, the said reinforcement ribbons being directed, some parallel to the one axis of the canopy, and others perpendicular to this axis, and in which at least someof the said elementary panels are provided with tissue slots allowing the air to escape from the interior to the exterior of the canopy, directing this air, appreciably parallel to the aforesaid axis, in the same direction, in order to impose a component of horizontal movement in the opposed direction to the said parachute.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan of the canopy of a parachute according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the same canopy;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the canopy of a parachute `according to the invention; particularly applicable to sport parachuting;

FIG. .4 is an elevation of the canopy in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial section on a vertical plane from the apex of the canopy in FIG. 4; and

FIG. .6 is a detail of the centre of the canopy in FIG. 4.

The canopy shown in FIGS. l and 2 is made up for the most part by tissue elements assembled together, following parallel lines along the longitudinal axis XX (which will be defined later), and parallel to the transverse axis YY. All the assembly lines are reinforced by ribbons 2 parallel to axis XX' and by ribbons 4 parallel to axis YY.

The main part of the surface of the canopy is thus divided into square units, each surrounded by reinforcement ribbons. However, in the region of the edge of the canopy, certain elements are provided in the form of right-angled triangles, such as 8, to give the canopy, seen in plan, a polygonic shape which can be appreciably inscribed in a circle. For the same reason, certain marginal elements, such as 10-12 are rectangular in shape.

The entire periphery of the canopy is bordered by reinforcement ribbon 14.

In view of the foregoing, it can therefore be easily seen that, contrary to parachutes made up till now by the assembly of radiating triangular gores, the canopy of the parachute according to the invention is made up by a longitudinal and transverse assembly of ribbons and tissue panels, which greatly facilitates manufacture and avoids much waste of tissue, while allowing, because of the longitudinal and transverse stiffening ensured by the reinforcing ribbons arranged in both these directions, the making of a flatter canopy than the known canopies with radiating gores up to the present. As the canopy is iiatter, the ratio between the projected and real surfaces of the canopy is obviously more favorable. The hollow of the canopy is in the order of 0.15 to 0.30.

In a parachute canopy according to the invention, certain at least of the elementary panels of square or rectangular shape are each provided with a tissue slot whose opening is directed backwards, i.e. in the direction of arrow 116 (FIG. l) in order to pass air from the interior to the exterior of the canopy, this air being directed appreciably tangentially to the canopy and towards the rear (as shown by arrows 18 in FIG. 2). Certain of these slots can have a particular shape, producing not only channeling of the air, but also acceleration.

The escape of air from the slots produces a resultant of propulsion tending to give a horizontal component of velocity to the parachute in the direction of arrow 20 A(FIGS. 1 and 2).

Therefore in the case of such a canopy it is possible to speak of a longitudinal and a transverse axis, and one of the features of the invention consists in constructing the canopy according to these two axes, while the construction of parachutes known up to the present was based solely on the desire to reduce the vertical speed of descent, so that it was natural to make canopies with radiating gores, an arrangement which had been maintained until now, even when it had been possible to give these canopies a certain horizontal component of velocity.

In a parachute 1according to the invention, various types of air-escape slot can be used, which have different shapes and functions. Thus it is that on the two longitudinal tissue bands nearest axis XX', simple panels 22 can be provided, having a slightly trapezoidal ilat shape, joined to the adjacent panels on three of their edges, so as to leave the rear edge free for the escape of air by an Iappreciably segment-shaped orifice.

On the intermediate longitudinal strips, accelerating slots of convergent shape can be provided, such as 24, while on the marginal strips lifting slots 26 of the balloon type are preferably arnanged, with a steering shape. These last slots have a pronounced lifting effect, and tend to spread the edges of the canopy, contributing to the desired flattening.

Rigging-lines 28-303234, sixteen in number in the example shown, are joined to the rangles of the canopy, at the connecting points of the longitudinal, transverse and edge-reinforcement ribbons. The four rigging-lines of each group are united on a riser in the usual way, and the four risers are connected to the harness worn by the parachutist.

Tissue panels 36, forming steering or drift stabilizers, are stretched between the upper part of the lateral rigging-lines.

The central square of the canopy is covered by at least four tissue panels 38 of triangular shape, giving this part of the canopy the shape of a attened pyramid whose apex 40 is open, forming the esc-ape chimney. The extractor chute 42, or the static-line bridle, is Iattached to the apex of the pyramid.

At the moment of opening of the parachute, this pyramidal central part of the canopy facilities deployment by separating the neighbouring parts of the canopy.

In order, again, to facilitate the spread of the canopy, it is of advantage to use very low-porosity, or even nonporous tissue to make the panel or two panels closest to the edges of the canopy, while, for the panels making up the central part, more porous tissue is preferably used in order to reduce the opening shock.

A parachute such as that just described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly suitable asa jumping parachute, e.g. for paratroops, the steering and braking movements, etc., being effected by activating one or another of the four risers connected to the groups 28-30-32-34 of rigging-lines.

There will now be described, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, another type of embodiment of a parachute according to the invention, which has all the features already described with reference to the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, but which comprises in addition means of complementary action on the air-escape slots so as to permit more precise manoeuvres. Such a parachute would be particularly suitable as a sport parachute.

According to this embodiment, there is provided, in the series of slots 24, a slot 24' normally open at both ends, and into which the preceding slot 24 blows, the rear edge of slot 24 being closed again by means of a control-line 44 (FIG. 4), extended to within the reach of the parachutist.

Such a slot, when its rear opening is thus closed, acts as a flow-inverter and produces a very pronounced braking (or steering) effect.

On each of the two neighbouring series of slots 26, a ow-inverting slot 46 and 48 is also preferably arranged,

the opening of these slots being regulated by a controlline 50-52 (FIG. 4). On each side of the canopy, the three control-lines 44-50-52 are united into a single line 54 which permits, by the united movement of both lines S4, vigorous braking or turning of the canopy. In competition, very -precise movements can thus be obtained.

In this embodiment, two triangular openings with a regulable section 56 is preferably provided on the rear of the pyramidal part 38 at the apex of the canopy. In a normal position, these openings allow the air to escape backwards, from the interior to the exterior of the canopy, as shown by arrow 58 in FIG. 4. At the peak of these openings 56 is joined the end of a control-line 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5) extended down within reach of the parachutist. When this line is pulled, an inversion of llow is also produced, as shown in FIG. 5. Control line 60 is joined to another line 62 ending at the apex of the pyramidal part 38 of the canopy, and allowing this pyramidal part to be flattened.

The control-lines 60-62 'are preferably surrounded by protective tissue sleeves preventing friction against the canopy on opening.

A parachute of this type can be provided with one or more central rigging-lines 64, likewise protected by a tissue sleeve (FIG. 5).

The central rigging-lines 64, as well as the control lines 62, can pass through a ring 66 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which is kept essentially in the base-plane of the pyramidal part by cruciform bridles 68.

The control line 54 for the slots 24-46-48 can likewisc be joined to a line 70 hooked to the lower angle of the lateral stabiliser panel 36 so as to curve the panel forwards, and increase the braking or turning effected produced by pulling on line 54.

Naturally, the invention is in no way limited to the examples described and illustrated; it is capable of numerous variations accessible to the specialist, according to the applications envisaged, and without going beyond the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A parachute having a canopy comprising a circumferential strip defining the periphery of said canopy and dening a front portion and a rear portion thereof; a plurality of first ribbons attached to said strip so as to extend in substantially parallel relationship between circumferentially spaced points on said front portion and circumferentially spaced points on said rear portion; a plurality of substantially parallel second ribbons attached to said strip so as to extend perpendicular to said first ribbons to form therewith a plurality of substantially square shaped frames, some of said second ribbons forming with said first ribbons and with said strip a plurality of peripheral frames of substantially triangular shape; a panel disposed within and secured to each of said square and triangular frames so as to close the openings dened thereby, at least one of said panels having a slot opening providing air flow from the lower to the upper canopy surface and over the upper canopy surface in a direction towards said rear portion; at least one central rigging-line connecting the canopy center to the parachute harness in order to limit the hollow of the deployed canopy, said hollow being in the order of 0.15 to 0.30; and said canopy center being made of an assembly of several tissue panels forming a flattened truncated pyramid on the upper part of the canopy, the apex of said truncated pyramid lbeing open and forming an escape vent.

2. A parachute as claimed in claim 1, in which there are a plurality of said slots of the balloon type near the periphery of the canopy which have a lifting effect and contribute to the spread of the canopy.

3. A parachute as claimed in claim 1, including stabilizing panels arranged between the upper part of the rigging-lines, said stabilizing panels being essentially parallel to one of said rst or second ribbons.

4. A parachute as claimed in claim 3, in which there are a plurality of slots and at least some of said slots are provided with control means extended to within reach of the parachutist for controlling the air-passage section through said slots as well as the direction of the air escaping from said slots, all said slots capable of exiting air in parallel directions.

5. A parachute as claimed in claim 1, in which said truncated pyramid is provided with openings normally allowing air to escape from the interior to the exterior of the canopy, in the rearward direction, said openings being provided with control means extended within reach of the parachutist in order to vary their air-passage section and the direction of the air escaping from them.

6. A parachute according to claim 1, in which the periphery of said canopy has the shape of a polygon having two pairs of opposite sides of greater length than References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,228,635 v 1/1966 Hughes et al 244-145 2,501,670 3/1950 Fogal 244-145 2,527,553 10/ 1950 Ingels 244-145 3,228,636 1/1966 Lemoigne 244-145 3,289,976 12/ 1966 Lemoigne 244-152 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner J. E. PITTENGER, Assistant Examiner 

